Lake County committee approves $1.07 million contract for Corporate Woods reservoir repairs

The Lake County Public Works and Transportation Committee voted Aug. 6 to authorize a $1,065,868 contract for repairs to the Corporate Woods water storage reservoir in Vernon Hills. Director Austin Mcfarland, Lake County Public Works, told the committee the reservoir supplies drinking water to the Vernon Hills system and that the roof and internal walls need repair.

“This is one of the five water storage reservoirs in the Vernon Hills water systems. . . . The roof is in need of repair, and there are some internal repair that is also needed to some of the internal walls inside this facility,” Director Austin Mcfarland said. Mcfarland also told the committee, “Bids were received, and Bulwark Construction was the lowest and responsible bidder, and I recommend approval for this repair.”

A motion to approve the contract was made by Member Hewitt and seconded by Member Hunter; the chair called for the ayes and the motion carried. The agenda packet listed the contractor on the resolution as Bollard Construction Company, Inc., of Waukegan, Illinois, while Mcfarland’s presentation referred to Bulwark Construction as the low, responsible bidder; the committee record does not resolve that difference in names. The committee did not provide additional detail in the meeting record about the bidder selection process beyond Mcfarland’s statement.

The committee did not discuss financing specifics during the motion; the resolution as introduced in the meeting materials authorized execution of the contract in the stated amount. Committee members asked no follow-up questions before voting.